Las Vegas Sportsbook Odds – Giants vs Pats
Not only is this Super Bowl a match up of a few years back when the Giants ruined the Patriots perfect season, but they also beat them in New England in week 9 this season.
Venue/ Stadium: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
Time/Date: 6:29 PM EST Sunday, February 5, 2012
NCAA Odds From: BetOnline
Moneyline: Giants +120 / Patriots -140
Spread (ATS): Patriots -2.5
Over/Under: 55
New York Giants vs. New England Patriots Preview
The Giants are surging and are playing well on both sides of the ball, but NFL lines still have the Pats as 2.5-point favorites.
A couple weeks ago in the conference championship games the Pats survived a dropped TD pass and a missed FG to beat the Baltimore Ravens 23-20 and the Giants took advantage of a fumble on a kick to beat the San Francisco 49ers 20-17 in OT.
On the season New England is 10-8 ATS with an O/U record of 12-6 and New York is at 11-7-1 ATS with an O/U record of 9-9-1.
While most are focusing on the Giants’ defense facing the Pats’ offense as being the key match up in this game, which it is, the Giants’ offense and Pats’ defense has played well in the post-season.
The New England secondary has had major issues this season and will be facing a tough task facing a hot Eli Manning and the WR duo of Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks. Manning has to stay away from turning the ball over and his offensive line has to play well. In the win over San Fran Manning was sacked 6 times and fumbled the ball once. The O-line has to key on Pats’ NT Vince Wilfork, who was stellar in the Baltimore game.
The Pats’ run defense shut down Ray Rice in the AFC title game and if they can do the same against Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs, who lead a New York rushing offense that ranks dead last in the league, Manning will have to do it all, which he has had to do all season. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Tom Brady has no lack of great targets, especially WR Wes Welker and the TE’s of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, but much like Manning he has to avoid the turnover. Against the Ravens a couple weeks back he had 2 INT and 0 INT and in the week 9 loss to the Giants he did have 2 TD, but also 2 INT.
To make it more likely Brady rushes his throws the great pass rush trio of Jason Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck, and Osi Umenyiora must get in the New England backfield. If the Pats’ offensive line steps up and plays great in this game the Pats have a HUGE advantage.
The Pats may look to run the ball a lot in this game behind BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead facing a Giants’ run defense that gave up 150 rushing yards to the 49ers in the NFC title game.
If you look at the betting trends they really favor the Giants. New York is 7-0 ATS in their last 7 games when they have played a team that has a winning record and they are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog. They have an Under record of 5-1 in their last 6 games overall.
On the other side of the coin the Pats have not been a good ATS in the post-season in the last few years. New England is 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 Super Bowls and they are only 1-7 ATS in their last 8 post-season games.
Jason’s Pick: Many are starting to lean towards the Giants in this game, but I am not one of the many. I think Brady will have a great game and he even said he would after stating he “sucked” in the NFC title game. I don’t see a blowout, but I also do not see a low scoring game like the Super Bowl a few years back between these 2 teams.
The Pats will win this game and cover the spread.
